JEREMIAH: THE WEEPING PROPHET

Text: Jeremiah 1:1-12

Introduction: In his book The Message of Jeremiah, Derek Kidner writes, “In the last decade of the longest, darkest reign in Judah’s history, two boys were born who were to be God’s gifts to a demoralized and damaged people. . . . The two new lives in question were those of Josiah, born in 648 bc, and Jeremiah, perhaps his slightly younger contemporary. . . . As reforming king and outspoken prophet, these two were to give their country its finest opportunity for renewal and its last hope of surviving as the kingdom of David” (p.13).

Jeremiah is often identified as the weeping prophet—and for good reason! He preached God’s message from a broken heart as he witnessed the “toboggan slide” of his nation toward a 70-year captivity in Babylon. This was God’s chastening hand to judge Judah’s flagrant idolatry. Look with me at Jeremiah’s call to such a challenging ministry:

1.    Jeremiah and His Call to Ministry (Jeremiah 1:1-5).
a.      God consistently surprises us with those He calls:

• Joseph, a shepherd and the youngest son of Jacob, who was sold by his own brothers into slavery.
• Moses, who was called at age 80 while watching someone else’ sheep.
• David, the youngest son of Jesse, who was out in the fields watching sheep when Samuel came searching for the anointed one.
• Paul, who was persecuting Christians when God met him on the Damascus road.
• Jeremiah, a young man whose father was a priest from the tiny village of Anathoth.

b.     God called Jeremiah to an extremely difficult task. Imagine this young follower of Jehovah being told these astounding truths:

• He was known by God before his conception. The Hebrew word for “known” here describes the most intimate type of knowing.
• He was sanctified and appointed before he was born. Psalm 139:13-16 enlarges on what Jeremiah is hearing: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed; and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” God not only formed our physical body, but He also plans out our days. Just as He planned out Jeremiah’s career as a prophet, He also has plans for our work today.

2.    Jeremiah’s Response (Jeremiah 1:6-8)

• “I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” Devotional writer F. B. Meyer comments on Jeremiah’s reaction: “God has often selected the young for posts of eminent service: Samuel and Timothy; Joseph and David; Daniel and John the Baptist; Calvin, who wrote his Institutes before he was twenty-four; and Wesley, who was only twenty-five when he inaugurated the great system of Methodism. In every age of the church young eyes have eagerly scanned this paragraph; and have dared to cherish the hope that since youth did not disqualify Jeremiah, so it would not render them unfit for the special service for God” (Jeremiah, pp.12-13).
• God’s Answer: “You shall go to all whom I send you.” We find a practical application in these words from Jeremiah. Those who are called to pastor a church usually go through a lengthy process. This can involve months of completing applications, being interviewed, and speaking to a congregation. Where is God in all of this?  Right at the heart of it. We are sent as surely as Jeremiah. And what about those who have volunteered for missionary ministry, or perhaps are puzzled over what field of service to select? Where is God in this decision? Right at the heart of it. But there’s more.
• “Whatever I command you, you shall speak.” So it is not only where but what. When an eager congregation asks on Sunday morning, “Is there any word from the Lord?” (Jer. 37:17), we can answer, “Yes, I have come before the Lord today, and this is what He has given me.” When I left seminary many years ago and returned to my home in Western New York, I was ready to preach, but I received no call. After a year of waiting, I had a “Jeremiah” experience. I was called to a church in Cleveland and stayed for 18 years. I believe that God sent me and that it was a good fit. I was not only where God had sent me, but I sensed His help with my messages. I understand how Jeremiah must have felt.

3.    God’s Reassurance (Jer. 1:9-10) In the Holman Old Testament Commentary: Jeremiah, Lamentations, we learn: “All four of the major prophets received a divine touch, but two were transformed by it. Isaiah and Jeremiah present a marked contrast in the effect of God’s touch in their call experience. Jeremiah did not respond as enthusiastically as Isaiah. Many writers have commented on the difference. Jeremiah did not volunteer for service. He was drafted. All his life, he remained an unwilling spokesman. The lad did not want to begin, and often he wanted to quit. But he had the marks of a true prophet: In one moment of despair, he said, ‘If I say, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name, then there is in my heart . . . a burning fire shut up in my bones and . . . I cannot contain’ (see Jer. 20:9 asv). The problem of Jeremiah differed from that of Isaiah. Both prophets received God’s touch, but He had a different purpose for each. Yahweh touched Isaiah’s mouth for cleansing. He was a young man with a consciousness of unclean lips. Yahweh touched Jeremiah’s mouth for empowering. He was a child with a consciousness of inadequate lips” (p.16).

Jeremiah 1:10 outlines a twofold ministry, not only for ancient prophets but also for today’s preachers. The call is to both tear down and to build up. Some are good at tearing down, while others do the building up. God is calling for both. Failure and sin must be confronted or torn down. But no ministry can survive a constant negative note. Grace and mercy must be taught. This is the building up. What a task for Jeremiah and for us in our day!

One Response to “JEREMIAH: THE WEEPING PROPHET”

1. lukevii says:

   October 15, 2010 at 3:48 pm

   Thank you. We need to be reminded that God is not restrained by his servant’s age and we should also recognize and respect God’s touch in younger adult.